Losing Pierson is a significant setback, since the experienced forward was very much the driving force of their spectacular run all the way to the semi-finals of the competition last year.

Tthe 32-year-old had been similarly productive this season. She led the team in scoring and on the glass with 17.5 points and seven rebounds per game before returning to the States for further medical assessment.

Good Angels General Manager Daniel Jendrichovsky did however hint that the fans' favourite could well make a return to the club if she makes a full recovery.

Until then, the power forward spot will be taken up by another American in the shape of Kizer, who played with Phoenix Mercury last summer having also stepped out in the WNBA with Tulsa Shock since graduating from Maryland in 2012.

Her only experience of club basketball outside of her homeland was in Korea during 2012-13, where she averaged 18.5 points and 11.7 rebounds for the KB Stars playing in the WKBL.

Kosice are currently 4-3 in Group A and head to UMMC Ekaterinburg tomorrow having already qualified for the play-offs, but no doubt hoping that despite their enforced roster changes, they will be back on the same court in April competing at the Final Eight.